Article handling and stacking machine



March 16, 1954 J. H. CHANDLER 2,672,079

ARTICLE HANDLING AND STACKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet1 L SJQCQZZWZQ BY all]:

March 1954 J. H. CHANDLER' ARTICLE HANDLING AND STACKING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25. 1950 w: 4 (M55 f[6%%9/6/ March 16, 1954 J,CHANDLER 2,672,079

ARTICLE HANDLING AND STACKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1950 -5Sheets-Sheet s IN VEN TOR.

March 16, 1954 J. H. CHANDLER ARTICLE HANDLING AND STACKING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 4 F iled Feb. 25, 1950 7 INVE Mme; K 15 J. H. CHANDLERARTICLE HANDLING AND STACKING MACHINE March 16 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Feb. 25, 1950 INVENTOR. Jamas' A/CfiaficZ/er Patented Mar. 16,1954 ARTICLE HANDLING AND STACKING MACHINE a James H. Chandler, Steger,111.

Application February 25, 1950, Serial No. 146,278

13' Claims. (Cl. 93-93) This invention relates to an articleloadingdevice, and, in particular, relates to a machine for handlingplaniform articlesof uniform size, such .as books, magazines or sectionsthereof and packages of materials, counting out a given number of saidarticles and separating them into groups or, piles of the specifiednumber.

, .In the printing industry, for example, it is ,standard practice forthe finished articles, be

they magazines, books or newspapers, to pass from the press onto aconveyor belt at uniform intervals. Counting devices are available with.which, at uniformly spaced interValaone'article .can bekicked out ofline to indicatethe number which have passed. agiven point; ,In anycase, at the end of the conveyor where the articlesare tobe bundled forshipping, it has been necessary ,tohave an attendant take them from theplatform where they. arrive, arrange them in piles ofhthe requirednumber, and lift the same onto another conveyor, or pass them on toanother party for wrapping into bundles of a desired ,number.-Accordingly, it ,is a fundamental object of the instant invention toprovide a device which will stack articles of,unifor m size accurately.aligned to a specified number and pass those articles on to anattendant or conveyor while preserving the alignment'for binding orwrapping into bundles for shipping purposes.

It is another object .of the invention to provide a simple inexpensivedevice'which can be adapted for installation on a standard press forreceiving books or magazines, accepting, specified numbers of thosebooks or magazines in stacks and passing them on to aconveyor in thosestacks re dy for W ppi V It is another object of the invention toprovide a counting-stacking device for articles, such 'as books,magazines, newspapers or packages, which can be made from standardcommon parts and can be adaptedfor use, with substantially any machine.,1

Other objects and advantage 01 themven- "tion will in part be obviousand in part appear hereinafter from a consideration of the followingdetailed description. I

Briefly, this device constitutes a machine for receiving the articles,counting out the specified number and setting. up-the operation ofpositioned synchronized ,arrns, which-will, push the pile of.mat erialof desired size, from ,the .point .of collection while retainin the.articles in an accurately, aligned pile to a .second point fordistribution a'nd reset for the reception of another collection ofmaterial. It involves, in its common embodiment therefore, a counting'device, platform for receiving and holdingthearticles as theyaccumulate, rake arms, a rocking shaft to impart synchronous movement tosaid arms, and a fluid pressure or mechanically operated system forpositioning and actiyating'the said rake arms to move the material fromthe one point to the next. The invention, accordingly, comprises thefeatures of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements ofparts exemplified in the construction of the article handling machinehereinafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings accompanying the instant application for adetailed illustration of the machine, H l i v I Figure 1 constitutes afront elevation of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus, taken along the lineidentified as 2-2 in Figu l;

Figure 3 is a top elevation of the apparatus showing the relationship ofconveyors ina preferred, embodiment of the machine;

Figure 4 is a semi-diagrammatic illustration of the electrical and fluidpressure operated circuits by which the several motions of the machineare initiated and carried out; and

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are perspective views showing a portion of theapparatus to illustrate the relationship of conveyors and articlereceiving box in a preferred embodiment of the machine, and to show thesequence of operations in receiving a specified number of articles andtheir movement out of the machine.

Referring now to Figure 1 wherein there is shown a general frontelevation of the apparatus illustrating most of the parts of theapparatus, I00 represents a bed on which, there is mounted 'a framecomprised of upright supports I 0| and I02, which carry bearingslll3,I04, ")5; and [0 6. In turn, bearings I03 and I05 carry a roller I 01 fc i l ne i h and. on i. a ,w l1 .,!08- For adjusting theseparationbetween rollers l0! and H18, bearings 104 and I06 arespringloaded byadjusters H0 and III. Directly aligned with and substantiallyimmediately under roller I01, which is the end roller of conveyor I09,there is platform I20 supported by arms I2! and'l22,

which platform is separated a distance I determined by the size of thestack to beformed thereon from receiving box l25'plac'ed directlfinarticle catching and guiding relationship under the roller I08..' 7 1..Also mounted on bed I00 is frame I30 carry- .3 ing roller 13!, the endroller of the conveyor l32, which is placed in article receivingrelationship with the platform I20. Guide plate I33 is aligned with thelongitudinal edge of the conveyor I32.

Between upright supports NH and 692 is mounted rockable shaft I49carried by bearings ME and $42, which shaft is longitudinally alignedwith the article catching platform I20. Substantially at one extremity,the shaft carries an additional bearing I43, which is fixed to the shaftand carries arm 544. At the opposite end of the shaft is a slidingbearing I49 on which arm I46 is carried (shown in Figure 2).

The bed of the machine, substantially at a central pivot point, carriesa bearing I59 and pin I5; which serve as the pivot point for lever I52,which at its upper end is bifurcated to pass around the sliding bearingI45 on the shaft I49 and slotted normal to the bifurcation to receivepin I53 fixed to the bearing 545 to ride in the slot on the lever I92.The arrangement thus forms a lost motion joint so that when lever IE2 isrotated about its pivot point I5i, the bearing E45 will slide alongshaft I49 to the opposite end thereof to be stopped substantially atsupport IOI.

Shaft I49 is rotatable freely within the bearings MI, M2, I45, so thatarm $49 may be rotated substantially 90 from a horizontal to a verticalposition. To accomplish this rotation, rockable shaft I49 is extendedthrough its bearing 42 where, on its extremity E43, it mounts the gear148. A rack and pinion joint is formed by gear 48 engaging rack I49.

On the bed of the machine, there is mounted an air cylinder I69, thoughit should be understood that any fluid pressure operated cylinder, orother mechanical arrangement, could serve. The cylinder may be ofconventional form and is a reciprocating type which has essentially aninternal piston defining chambers on either side thereof, so thatreciprocating motion can be imparted thereto by the application of fluidpressure to either side thereof. Externally, the cylinder has a shaftIBI which, in the structure shown, is attached to the lever 952 at apoint I62 above its pivot point I5 I. The arrangement thus puts twopivot points, ISI and 192, on lever I52, point I5I being fixed and pointI92 on the arm being laterally movable.

Tubes I19 and I'll represent air ducts admitting pressure to oppositesides of the piston so that reciprocal motion of the shaft I9I can betranslated to rotary motion of the lever I52, movable in substantiallyan arc of about 90, which in turn is translated to sliding motion of thebearing I45, carrying arm I49, on shaft I49.

Mounted also on the bed of the machine is counting device I89 whichreceives signals from its trigger properly placed in the line of travelof the articles passed, for example, over conveyor 99. The countingdevice may be of any conventional design and is preferably one which canbe sensitized to a variety of counts, readily adjustable thereto, andwhich also can be activated by means of a small electrical switch in theline of articles coming from the machine.

Referring now to Figure 2 which is a side elevation of the apparatus andshows certain parts of the machine more clearly than Figure 1, it willbe seen that articles in passing over conveyor H19 will be guided intoreceiving box I25, there to be dropped to platform I20 and passed out tothe conveyor I32. Thus, in this embodiment of the apparatus, thereceiving platform I is at a level below that of the first conveyor,where it can receive planiform articles aligned by box I and pass themon to another conveyor at the level of the platform. Appearing in thisfigure in end view is rake arm I shown in horizontal position andclearing through the space allowed between the receiving box I29 andplatform I20.

Mounted on shaft I49 there is finger I99 which is in fixed relationshipwith the arm I48. The function of this structure will be apparent in thesubsequent description of the operation of the apparatus.

Seen in end view in this figure is shaft I49 carrying gear I48 whichmeshes with rack I49 which is a part of a rack and pinion device forrotating the shaft I40.

Immediately under the delivery end of the conveyor I99, there is mountedtrip finger I9: of micro-switch I92 which is connected (by line 993) tocounter I80.

Referring to Figure 3, which is a top elevation of the apparatus andshows the parts in a typical preferred orientation in the handlingapparatus, it will be seen that shaft I40 terminating in gear I49meshing with rack I49 is driven by air cylinder 290 which (like cylinderI99) is of conventional construction and consists essentially of aninternal piston dividing the cylinder into two chambers on oppositesides thereof, to which air pressure can be admitted to impart areciprocating motion to the piston and shaft connected thereto. The airpressure is supplied to the cylinder 290 by lines 20I and 202 leadingfrom four-way solenoid-controlled valve consisting of sections 293 and20-4 and solenoids 2&5, 299, 29'! and 209. The air supply to the valvesis furnished by line 209 which leads to section 203 and to section 294,by branch line 2I0.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3 for the mechanical arrangement of the partsof the electromechanical system which activates the apparatus, itappears in Figure 1 that conduits I19 and Ill connect with cylinder I tosupply it with the motivating air pressure. Cylinder I69 also serves todrive arm I52 which carries contact 230 which activates micro-switch23!, which in turn is electrically connected with the solenoidscontrolling section 204 of the control valve. Also, arm I52 carriescontactor 60, which serves to activate micro-switch 26I, and isconnected by line 262 with section 204 of the control valve. Alsoappearing in Figure l is trip arm I mounted on shift I40 which serves toactivate micro-switch 250 which is connected by line 25I to section 203of the fluid control valve.

The mechanical relationship of the parts involving trip arm I90 andmicro-switch 250 is better shown in Figure 2 as is also the placement ofthe micro-switch I9I, I92.

The eZectro-mechanical activating and power system For purposes ofreceiving a specified number of units from conveyor I09 to be depositedin receptacle I25, counted, and passed on to conveyor I32, a sequence ofoperations must be imparted to the arms I44 and I46, which sequence isinitiated by the electrical counting system and carried out by the fluidpressure power system forming a part of the machine.

The remainder of the apparatus is best understood by reference to Figure1 and the unified semi-diagrammatic layout of the system shown lm-Figure4; ;Thus;; IQI"; (Figurea i) -represents -the 'fingeriofia;;microswitch-I 02-,-mounted;in the path 70f; articles passing from" conveyor I09 toreceptacle I25. aEa'chactivation of switch I92 passes an impulse'by---linet 1'93; and-is recorded at counting device I80.The-intelligenceythus inc parted to the electro-pn'eumatic" system whenthe specified number oi units-has passed-overr-thc switch'serves -to#initiate operation of "the system. For synchronized operation, theapparatus carries solenoids 205,: 206,--.20'I- and 208, :of :which 205and 201' control the operations-of, section 203'ofthe fluidvalve vto:activate-cylinder I 60, and'solenoids '206 and-208 control section 204;to activate cylinder 200.- e I r 1 w --rAir :is acommon fluid pressure:medium, and any source 'ofcompressedairaof adequatewpressure will servethe purpose; It iszto be vunder- ;stood; of course, that any hydraulic,fluidcan 'beused.- I Conduit 209 connects from an air supply systemthrough conduit 2 I to section 203-and'to section "204., The twosections ofthe four-way valve are respectively connected byconduits I I0and III -tocylinder I60 and conduits-2M and 202 to cylinder 200. t Forinitatingthe appropriate sequence of operations :in the efluid pressureoperated system, micro-switches-are provided to gather the intelligencedetermining the number of units which have passedtothe conveyor, pass itto the counting unit which inturnactivates the separate cylindersthrough the operation of the solenoids. 'Micro-switch I92.is tripped byeach unit passing overconveyor I09 and passes this intelli- -gence tocounter I80. Counter-180 in turn is connectedby-line 220 to solenoid205. 7 Section 203 of the four-way'valve is controlled byusolenoids 205and 201and passes fluid pressure to cylinder-I60 by-lines-I10rand-I-II-.7 'In' similar fashiomsection 204 of the four-way valve connectsfluid'pressure to cylinder 200 by lines 20I and 202. r Y

Sequential-activationof the solenoids is obtained by-electrical signalsinitiated by contact 230 on arm I52 which activates switch 23I whichisconnected to solenoid 206 byline 232: a Trip arm I 90, maintained infixed spaced relationship with arm I46, activates, switch'2 50 which isconnected by line '25I to solenoid 201'.

Lever I52 on itsreturn stroke (position shown in Figure 1) causescontact 260 to-close-microswitch 26I connected byline 262 tosolenoid-208.

The operation time" data 1 The. operation of the apparatus is bestunder- -stood by reference to Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8"in conjunction withFigure 4, which shows the electro-mechanical intelligence and powerimpartj ing portion ,of the apparatus related to the mechanicalsectionss'hown in Figures'5; 6, 7 and 8. The sequ'enceof operationsillustrated in'the series of Figures 5;"6; vans 8 is shown withthe"first step'in Figu're5 'corresponding 'to that at which it mightbe;said' the "tenthmagazine' is about to pass. under roller. "I08toberdelivered'to receptacle I25. r V I. "l 7 It .will be, seen that inthis initial situation, arms I44 and, I46 are in horizontalposition witharm Im -substantially immediatelyadjacenti to theaccumulated pile-oimaterial to be moved. Upon completion of the last count, the -magazinepassing over roller lfl't-between rollers I0I- and I08, passes onto thestack acciimulated on the platform I20, thereby tripping the finger I9 Iof {:the ihiicro-switch? 192. The assistant r moving rake arm I46 andsweeping the pile of magazines from the platform I25 onto the conveyor;I32 where they meet arm-I44 and alignment-ofzthe stack is preserved. Theposition of the machine-at thisstage is shown in Figure 6. a 1 Uponcompletion of itswsubstantially 90 rota .tion, lever I52 causes contactpoint 230 to complete the circuit of micro-switch 23 I. Upon com-,pletioniiofthisrcircuit, which corresponds substantially withtheycompletion of the sweep .of

lever I52-and contactof the'pile of magazines with arm-I44,- switch23I-energizes the second solenoid 206 which opens valve 2134, allowingflow of fluid pressure through line 202 tooperate cylinder 20!! on itsforward stroke;

-It is understood, of course, that the machine is in adynamic system.and that the conveyors are moving ata rather high rate of speed as, iscommon-in the printingindustry; In the forward stroke of 280-, itrotates theshaft I'substantially 90, turning :rakearmsIMand I46 intosubstantially vertical positions so that the pile of maga- -zines whichhas been transferred to the moving conveyor clears stationary arm I46and alignment is still preservedp The position of :the machine at thisstage is shown in Figure 'l; f

Upon assumption-0f the vertical or substantially vertical position=byarm I 44; whereby the pile ofmagazines clears-the arms,. trip I 90 onshaft I 40 assumes essentially a horizontal position, for itsrelationship to arm'I46 is one of substantial pervpendicularityand itthen makes contact with or closesthecircuit of micro-switch 250. Thisswitch then energizes the third solenoid 201 which opens (valve section203 causing the flow of air pressureto operate cylinder [I63 for itsreturn stroke, and in so doing,lever I52 is rotated backsubstantially-90carrying rake arm I46 back to .its starting position. vi r showninFTigure 8. 3

, The position of the machine at this stage is 'Upon completion. of.this 90 rotation by arm I52,-contact 260 carried thereby completes thecircuit of micro-switch 2M; which energizes the fourths-solenoid- 208,which opens valve section v 204 permitting. the flow of fluid pressureto operate the air cylinder 200 for its backward stroke, thereby.rotating .the shaft r I 40 .90 and returning armssIM and I40toihorizontaliorv starting position. The return. of arms I 44 and I45.from the v vertical.hosition tloi thehcrizontal position constitutes.the completion of a cycleand the return of the arms to" positions foroperation.

j 'Ifhepositionjof the machine; at this stage is The-sequence ofoperations is readily followed in Figures 5,, 6, '7 and 8, in whichFig'ure'5 represents the two arms'in horizontal position with theapparatus in motion receiving magazines from the conveyor "belt;Upon'passageof the last maga- "aines' of the'gset count between therollers; micro- .'switchI52. energizes the counter I30 and the; se-'cuenceofLoperations is, initiatd..

In Fi ure 6, it win he 'se'enthat lever I52 as completed its 90 swingand has brought arm M6 past the receiving box I25 and moved the pile ofmagazines from the box sothat the next count can commence accumulating.Having moved the magazines to a position away from the box, the third.position of the apparatus is seen in Figure '7 where the arms have beenrotated substantially 90 to permit the moving conveyor I32 to carry thepile of magazines away from the delivery point. To return the arms toarticle receiving position, lever I52 completes a return 90 pivotcarrying rake arm Mia back to substantially its initial location, whilein the meantime, magazines have accumulated in the receiving box. Uponcompletion of a rotation of shaft Mi arms IM and M6 are rotated intohorizontal position, and the apparatus is ready to commence a secondcycle of operations to move the magazines out from the receiving box.

Thus, it will be seen that the machine described has general utility forreceiving, counting and stacking planiform articles in preparation forpacking and shipping. In the printing and bookbinding industry, where itfinds its greatest application, the problem is reduced to performing thesequence of operations with considerable rapidity because of the ratesof production, which will run several thousand per hour. In such anoperation, books or magazines pass from one ccnveyor, drop on to thereceiver, the proper number is accumulated, the sequence of operationsinitiated, the stack of books moved aside for wrapping, and the machinereset for moving another stack within the interval during which a stackof the required number must accumulate. It is possible with theapparatus described to reduce the time required for a given cycle ofoperation of the machine to only a few seconds, so that magazines orbooks being produced at a maximum rate can behandled.

For example, in normal operation of a magazine hinder, the average speedwill be approximately 12,000 units per hour, which means that if thecounting and stacking machine is to prepare and count off stacks of ten,it must pass through its cycle of operations and reset to receive tenwithin hour (3 seconds). Within this cycle of 3 seconds then the countermust receive ten books, push them aside, rotate the arms out of place,return the arms to initial position and rotate them into position againfor pushing the accumulated stack of ten. The intervals between theappearance of units on the platform reduce thus to about 0.3 second, ora shorter interval, so that the pusher arm I46, when it pushes the stackof books aside, must do so in a fraction of a second. It will be seen,therefore, that the push cycle which moves ten books or the requ rednumber of books off the platform, must be short enough to avoid thefirst unit of the next cycle of ten to follow. In this operation,therefore, the two arms are used because the pile of books is sweptrapidly off the platform, halted momentarily to preserve the alignmentof the stack, and then the two arms pulled out of the way to permit thestack of books to go on to the delivery conveyor for wrapping andbundling.

What is claimed is:

1. An article handling and stacking machine comprising, a receiver forarticles, a rockable shaft in fixed spaced relationship with saidreceiver, a first reciprocable arm on said shaft and keyed thereto, asecond arm fixed to said shaft, said arms being disposed on oppositesides of said receiver, means for cyclically imparting a reciprocatingmovement to said first arm to sweep accumulated articles from saidreceived, and means for cyclically imparting a rotary movement to saidshaft to move the arms from the line of travel of said articles.

2. An article handling and stacking machine comprising, a receiver, arockable shaft held in fixed spaced relationship with said receiver, areciprocable arm carried by said shaft, a second arm fixed to saidshaft, means for cyclically imparting a reciprocating movement to saidfirst arm to sweep it across said receiver and move articles therefromto said second arm, and means for cyclically imparting a rotary movementto said shaft to move said first and second arms from the line of travelof said articles.

3. A machine for handling and stacking articles comprising, incombination, a receiver for the articles, a rockable shaft mountedadjacent to said receiver, a first reciprocable arm mounted on andcarried by said shaft, a second arm fixed to said shaft, the arms beingdisposed on opposite sides of said receiver, means for reciprocatingsaid first arm to sweep across said receiver, and means engaging saidshaft to rock said shaft and rotate the arms carried thereby out of theline of travel of said articles.

4. A machine for handling and stacking planiform articles comprising incombination, a receiver for the articles, a rockable shaft mountedadjacent to said receiver, a first reciprocable arm mounted on andcarried by said shaft, a second arm fixed to said shaft, said arms beingdisposed on opposite sides of said receiver, means comprising a leverpivoted at one end and engaging said first arm in a lost motion jointfor reciprocating said arm,.means for causing said lever to pivot,thereby to impart reciprocating motion to said arm and sweep it acrosssaid receiver to move articles accumulated thereon to the second arm,and means engaging said shaft to rock said shaft and rotate the armscarried thereby out of the line of travel of the articles.

5. An article handling and stacking machine for operation with planiformarticles comprising, a receiver for the articles, a rockable shaftmounted adjacent to said receiver, a first reciprocable arm keyed tosaid shaft and carried thereby, a second arm keyed on said shaft infixed lateral position, means comprising a lever pivoted at one end andforming a lost motion joint with said reciprocable arm for imparting asliding motion thereto, means for causing said lever to pivot and meansengaging said shaft to rotate said shaft and the arms carried thereby.

6. An article handling and stacking machine comprising, means forbringing articles to a receiver and dropping the articles on to saidreceiver, and a second means substantially aligned in level therewithfor moving articles away from said receiver, a rockable shaft adjacentto said receiver, a first reciprocable arm carried by said shaft,reciprocating means comprising, a lever pivoted at one end and meetingsaid first arm in a lost motion joint, and motive means for said pivotedlever, a second arm fixed to said shaft, and motive means for said shaftsynchronized with the motive means for said lever, whereby a sequence ofoperations involving a sweep of said first arm across said receiver,movement of both of said arms out of said original path, the return ofsaid first arm to substantially its first position and return of botharms to substantially their original positions, can be initiated andcarried out.

'7. An article handling and stacking machine for moving articles fromone place to a receiver to form stacks, and removing the stackstherefrom comprising, in combination, a receiver, a rockable shaftadjacentto said receiver, a first reciprocable arm carried bysaid'shaft, a second arm fixed to said shaft, both arms being keyed tosaid shaft for rotation therewith, and reciprocating means for saidfirst arm comprising a lever pivoted at one end and meeting said firstarm ina lost motionjo'irit, and "motive means for said lever to impart apivot motion thereto, motive means for said shaft comprising, a rack andpinion engaging said shaft, and synchronizing means for said severalmembers, whereby said first reciprocable arm sweeps accumulated articlesfrom said receiver, said shaft rotates to bring said arms out ofalignment with said accumulated articles, said lever is caused to returnsaid reciprocable arm to its starting position on said shaft, and saidshaft is again r tated to put said arms in sweeping and articlereceiving position.

8. An article handling machine comprising, in combination, a firstconveyor, a receiver, and a second conveyor in series, a rotatablymounted shaft adjacent to said receiver a first reciprocable arm carriedby said shaft, reciprocating means comprising a lever pivoted at one endand meeting said first arm in a lost motion joint, a first motive meansfor said pivoted lever comprising a fluid pressure actuated cylinder, asecond arm fixed to said shaft, a second motive means for said shaftcomprising, a rack and pinion'engaging said shaft, and a second fluidpressure actuated cylinder driving said rack and pinion, synchronizingmeans for said several arms and cylinders comprising a counter actuatedby articles passing over said first conveyor to said receiver, a controlvalve controlling fiuid pressure lines to said motive means, a firstswitch actuated by said counter at a predetermined count to actuate thevalve and thereby the first cylinder to pivot said lever, thus to sweepsaid first arm across the receiver and move accumulated articlestherefrom to said second conveyor at said second arm, a second switchactuated at the end of the pivot movement of said lever to actuate thecontrol valve and admit pressure to the second cylinder, thereby torotate said shaft and move the two arms out of the line of travel of thearticles, a third switch actuated at the completion of the rotation ofsaid shaft to actuate the control valve to admit pressure to said firstcylinder to return the pivot lever to its starting position, and afourth switch actuated upon completion of said pivot to admit pressureto said second cylinder and return said first and second arms tostarting position for the succeeding cycle of operations.

9. An article handling machine comprising in combination a firstconveyor, a receiver, and a station for receiving material from saidmachine, a rotatably mounted shaft adjacent to said receiver, a firstreciprocable arm carried by said shaft, reciprocating means comprising alever pivoted at one end and driving said first arm, a first motivemeans for said pivoted lever, a second arm fixed to said shaft, a secondmotive means for said shaft, synchronizing means for said several arms,comprising a counter actuated, by articles passing over said firstconveyor to said receiver, a control connected to said several motivemeans, a first means actuated by said counter at its starting position,and a fourth means actuated a predetermined count to actuate saidcontrol,

upon completion of said pivot to operate said second motive means andreturn said first and second arms to the starting position for thesucceeding cycle of operations.

10. An article handling machine comprising means for bringing articlesto a receiver and droppring the articles onto said receiver, and astation substantially aligned in level therewith for receiving articlesfrom said receiver, a rockable shaft adjacent to said receiver, a firstreciprocable arm carried by said shaft, reciprocating means for saidarm, a second arm fixed to said shaft, and motive means for said shaftsynchronized with the reciprocating means for said first arm, whereby asequenc of operations involving sweep of said first arm across saidreceiver, movement of both of said arms out of said original path, thereturn, of said first arm to substantially its first position, androtation of both arms to substantially their original positions, isinitiated and carried out.

11. An article handling machine comprising in combination a conveyor, areceiver, and a station for receiving material from said machine, arotatably mounted shaft adjacent to said receiver, a firstreciprocablearm carried by said shaft, reciprocating means for said first arm, asecond arm fixed to said shaft, motive means for rotating said shaft,synchronizing means for said several arms including a control, saidsynchronizing means comprising a counter actuated by articles passingover said first conveyor to said receiver to actuate said control, andthereby to sweep said first arm across the receiver and move accumulatedarticles therefrom to said station at said second arm, a second controlactuated at the end of the sweep of said first arm, thereby to rotatesaid shaft and move the two arms out of the line of travel of thearticles, a third control actuated at the completion of the rotation ofsaid shaft to return the first arm to its starting position, and afourth control actuated upon return of said arm to return said first andsecond arms to starting position for the succeeding cycle of operations.

12. An article handling and stacking machine comprising means forbringing articles to a receiver and dropping the articles onto saidreceiver, and a station for receiving articles from said receiver, arockable shaft adjacent to said receiver, a first reciprocable armcarried by said shaft, reciprocating means for said arm, a second armfixed to said shaft at a point adjacent to said station, and motivemeans for said shaft synchronized with the reciprocating means for saidfirst arm, whereby said first arm is first swept across said receiver,both of said arms are rotated out of said original path, said first armis returned to substantially its first position, and both arms arerotated to substantially their original positions.

13. An article handling and stacking machine comprising a receiver forarticles, a first arm mounted adjacent to said receiver as a startingpoint for reciprocating movement entirely across 11 said receiver, asecond arm mounted close to said receiver but spaced therefrom, meansfor cyclically reciprocating said first, arm entirely across saidreceiver to a point a fixed distance from said second arm and back toits starting point, and connection between said arms to rotate said armsthrough substantially a 90 are when said first arm reaches said fixedpoint and back to their initial positions when said first arm isreturned to its starting point.

JAMES H. CHANDLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Christensen Dec. 21, 1920 McDermott Oct. 27, 1925 PetersonJan. 14, 1941 Thompson et a1. Aug. 3, 1943 Harred July 15, 1947 MorrisonMay 2, 1950 Jessen May 23, 1950

